1.1 INTERPRETATION - The Tournament Rules and Procedures cannot,
and should not, regulate all possible situations that may arise during a
game. Respecting the Rules, the Director, and the superior Rules Committee,
preserves their freedom of judgment and must find the solution dictated
by fairness and compatible with the circumstances of a particular case (e.g.
infringement of accepted standard Tournament behavior by a player or spectator).
In the event of a dispute, the decision of the Rules Committee will be final.
Nobody has the right (Director and Committee above all) to change the Rules
and Procedure. Any infringement must be signaled to the WBF for the consequent
disciplinary measures (admonition, suspension, or if repeated, expulsion).
(See Comments at the end.)
1.2 DEFINITIONS
Sponsoring Organization: Person(s), authorized by the WBF, establishing
conditions of contest and responsible for the payment of the prize money.
Director: Knowledgeable and disinterested chief administrator (recognized
by the WBF) of the Tournament assisted, if necessary, by Tournament Assistant(s).
Tournament Committee: Maximal Authority of the Tournament, represented
by a President, taking final decisions about any dispute and controlling
the regularity of the draw.
Tournament Program (Invitation): Schedule and statement of condition
of contest distributed to each potential entrant prior to entry.
Draw Sheet: The official posted record of match assignments and results.
Notice Board: The posted record of the official communications and
decisions of Director and Tournament Committee. The names of the Tournament
Director and of the Committee President must be published on the Tournament
invitation. The composition of the Committee, including only present members
representing the participants Nations, must be published on the Notice Board
as soon as possible before the draw.
1.3 SCOPE - Except where otherwise specified, the commonly accepted
rules of backgammon apply.
1.4 STAFF - The Director is knowledgeable and is the disinterested
chief administrator of the Tournament. He is assisted, if necessary, by
Tournament Assistant(s). The Director (and the Assistants) must be recognized
by the Worldwide Backgammon Federation. The Director must be a disinterested
party; for this reason the Director cannot play in the Tournament. He must
always be present and must have a Vice-Director on hand during any extraordinary
absence.
1.5 ELIGIBILITY - Director, on advice of the Tournament Committee,
may exclude or disqualify entrants for reasons which need not be stated
but shall include cheating and other serious misconduct. The Director is
obliged to refuse the registration of players barred or suspended by the
Disciplinary Committee of the Worldwide Backgammon Federation. Any participation
in lower or higher categories must be free (no limit for age, race, sex,
etc.) because the players are fairly protected from the differentiate length
of matches: Beginner - no doubling cube, best of three or five matches (like
Swiss style); Novice - match to 5 points without doubling cube, gammon (mars)
valid. Backgammon not valid (like Turkish style); Limited - match to 5 points
without doubling cube, gammon and backgammon valid (like South American
Style); Intermediate or Advanced - opening round maximum 7 or 9 points;
Championship - opening round maximum 11 points; Master - opening round minimum
13 points. (See Comments at the end.)
1.6 AIDS - Once a match is in progress, players may not use electronic
or mechanical, printed or written aids except to keep score. Player may
forbid his opponent from wearing headphones. Using of portable phones (in
any case must be turned off) is prohibited. Any violation shall forfeit
any remaining matches and all Tournament winnings.
1.7 LANGUAGES - The official Tournament language(s) will be decided
by the Committee. Once decided, no speech in any other language(s) will
be permitted between players and spectators, or between spectators when
matches are in progress.
1.8 SPECTATORS - Spectators should remain silent while observing
a match. Spectators have no right to draw attention to any misplays or comment
on plays. Player may request Director to bar one or more spectators from
viewing his match and it will not be necessary for a player to give a reason.
Spectators, except to report cheating to Director, may testify about their
observations only at request of Director or Tournament Committee. A player
receiving unsolicited advice from a spectator must summon Director at once.
If a player is found to have received solicited advice from a spectator,
both shall forfeit any remaining matches and all Tournament winnings.
1.9 FORMAT - The format of each event shall be stated in the Tournament
Program. Any draw must be manual (not computerized), public and "random"
under the supervision of a WBF-committee member or at least of a foreign
player. The draw is definitive: any alteration of the draw involves the
admonition or disqualification of the Director. The use of "Liquid
Paper" is forbidden and the system to draw numbers corresponding to
the names of the players too. The draw must include only the registered
players having paid the entry fee; the Director is responsible of the payments
and cannot invoke the "no show" to exclude from the payment some
people not arriving. It is admitted the system of the numbered "late
arrive" transforming in "bye" to the expiry of the penalty
points. The substitution of a "numbered late arrive" with a "late
arrive player" must to be realized by "random draw". The
Consolation must be Automatic Progressive (using the special WBF draw) or
simply Progressive:
1) The losers in the main of the first day will be putted, by manual pure
random draw, in the top half of the sheet giving the necessary number of
byes;
2) The losers in the main of the day after, excluding the players taking
prize money will find an advanced place in the bottom half of the sheet;
3) The final of the progressive consolation will be played by the winner
of the two halves of the sheet (up and down). The standard format for Progressive
Consolation and Last Chance events provides a fresh "pure random"
public manual draw. (See Comments at the end.)
2.1 PLACE - Except as permitted by Director, all entrants must
play in the designated tournament room observing his seat assignment on
the Draw Sheet. Normally, smoking is prohibited.
2.2 TIME - Players must begin matches promptly. Director shall award
1 point to the opponent of an entrant who is 15 minutes late, and 1 point
for each additional 5 minutes of tardiness thereafter. When the penalty
points amount to more than half of the number needed to win the match, the
absent player will have then forfeited. To avoid penalties, player should
secure Director's consent when leaving Tournament room for more than 10
minutes.
2.3 BREAKS - Each player may take breaks only between games and no
more than twice in any match. Breaks may last no more than 5 minutes (10
minutes in final and semifinal matches). Director shall impose 1 penalty
point for each 5 minutes or fraction of excess break time.
2.4 SLOW PLAY - Players are expected to play at a reasonable pace.
On his own initiative or the request of a player, Director may monitor a
match for slow play. Director shall warn an unduly slow player after the
first offense. For each subsequent offense, Director shall at his own discretion
impose 1 penalty point on the slow player.
2.5 SETTLEMENTS - No players may settle a game or a match. All matches
will be played to the stated number of points. Players do not have the right
to agree between themselves to play a different score (to 9 points instead
of 5 points for example). In the case of a match played to an incorrect
number of points, the Committee will adjudicate.
2.6 MONITORS - On his own initiative or at request of a player (for
a fee to be agreed-upon in advance), Director may appoint a monitor to observe
a match. Monitor shall have full power to protect each player against an
opponent's irregularities (illegal moves excluded).
3.1 EQUIPMENT - Normally the players must use the dice and the
cups provided from the Organization. Either player may demand, before begin
the match, that both use, when available and approved by the Director: (a)
precision dice (over any others) and/or (b) lipped dice cups (over unlipped).
3.2 PREFERENCE - If necessary, the backgammon board, direction of
play, choice of checker color and seat location shall be decided by one
roll (only one valid for all the chooses) of one die (the higher will decide)
prior to the commencement of play.
3.3 EQUIPMENT CHANGES - Director may replace equipment at anytime.
Otherwise the four dice initially selected shall be used throughout. No
player may change or discard any die during a match. The Director shall
impose one penalty point on any player who does so and may initiate further
disciplinary action. Director may chance dice on his own initiative at anytime
or, on request of a player, at most twice during a match at the start of
a new game. At the start of a new game, either player may request that the
four dice in use be mixed. In this case, the demanding player shakes the
four dice together in one cup and rolls them out. Opponent then chooses
first and third die.
4.1 RANDOM ROLLS - Dice are strictly a means of obtain random
numbers; any other use violates the rules and the spirit of backgammon.
A legal roll consist of shacking the dice vigorously (no less that 3 times
and no more that 5) in a dice cup and then simultaneously tossing them out
at a discernible height above the playing surface to the right of the bar,
allowing them to bounce and roll freely.
4.2 VALID ROLLS - Both dice must come to rest flat (not cocked) on
the playing surface to the right of the bar; otherwise they (both) must
be rerolled.
4.3 MOVING - Player should do each move clearly, using only one hand
to play each checker. Player shall reenter any checker on the bar before
moving any other checker. No player should move any checkers during an opponent's
turn. Deviation from proper moving procedure may result in an adverse ruling
in case of dispute.
4.4 CHECKER HANDLING - Checkers which have been hit must be kept
on the bar (on the middle of the opponent's half side) pending reentry.
Checkers which have been borne off must be kept off the entire playing surface
for the rest of the game and putted in order into the proper space. Failure
to observe these procedures may result in an adverse ruling in case of dispute.
4.5 LIFTING DICE - Player concludes his turn by lifting (even slightly)
either or both his dice. He may reposition the dice on the playing surface
to facilitate moving the checkers but only flowing the dice on the playing
surface. The player must lift the dice with two finger of the hand and wait,
before put the dice inside the cup, the roll of the opponent to allow the
control, in case of disagreement, the value of the roll. After the opponent's
roll must put the dice inside the cup, the cup on (never below) the table
and wait for the next turn. During his opponent's turn it's prohibited to
touch dice, cup or, worse, shack the cup disturbing the opponent.
4.6 PREMATURE ACTIONS - Any cube turned prematurely stands, and the
opponent may complete his play before acting on that cube. If a player rolls
prematurely, then the opponent, upon completing his turn, may accept the
premature roll or require the player to reroll.
4.7 ERROR IN SETUP - An incorrect starting position must be corrected
prior to the fifth roll of the game. Thereafter the existing setup becomes
official. The opponent of a player with more than 15 checkers may remove
surplus checkers of his own choosing or require the player to finish the
game with the surplus. The opponent of a player with fewer than 15 checkers
(prior to the bear-off) may supply the shortage by placing sufficient checkers
on the bar or require the player to finish the game with the shortage. Gammons
and backgammons still apply.
4.8 ILLEGAL MOVES - Upon drawing attention to an illegal move, player
may condone or demand that opponent legally replay the entire roll. Player
condones a prior illegal move rolling his own dice or turning the cube.
4.9 COMPLETION - Games must be rolled to completion, unless ended
by a pass, double or redouble, or conceded in a non-contact position as
a single game, gammon or backgammon loss. No game may be canceled and replayed,
or settled. Matches must be played to the appointed length.
4.10 REPORTING RESULTS - Final score shall be reported to Tournament
Official by match winner. Official shall verify and post the correct result
on draw sheet. Once posted, an erroneous result may still be corrected in
a timely manner, but not after either player has begun a succeeding match.
5.1 KEEPING SCORE - Each player shall keep a running match score
and compare his score with opponent's at the start of every game. In the
event of a scoring dispute, failure to keep score creates a presumption
in favor of the opponent.
5.2 CUBE SETUP - Both players are responsible for restoring the cube
to the center at the start of each game. A centered cube has a value of
1 point. In the event of a dispute, the current position and level of the
cube will strongly influence the ruling. Exception: the cube will be removed
during the no-cube game.
5.3 CUBE RULES - Gammons and backgammons will count at all times.
It is not necessary to double an opponent in order to win a gammon or backgammon.
5.4 DOUBLING - To turn the cube, a player sets the face with the
new proposed value upper most, puts it on the playing surface to the right
of the bar, states his intention clearly (e.g. "Double!" or "Redouble!")
and yields the turn temporarily while his opponent acts on the cube.
5.5 TAKING - To take the cube, a player places the cube at the new
proposed value on his own side of the table while stating his intention
clearly (e.g. "Take!" or "Accept!"). A player who takes
the cube shall keep it at the proposed and accepted value in a place in
his own side where it is clearly visible to his opponent. In case of dispute,
the physical position of the cube creates a presumption of its proper location
and value.
5.6 PASS - To reject the cube, one says "Pass!", enters
the score and resets the board.
5.7 NO CUBE GAME - When a player reaches match point (e.g. 8 points
in a 9 points match), the doubling cube will be out of play, but only for
one game ("no-cube" game). The cube will be removed during the
no-cube game. If improperly used the trailer may cancel the game.
6.1 DISPUTES - When a dispute arises, all players must leave dice,
checkers, cube and score unchanged while Director is summoned. Violations
by player in this area are most serious and create a presumption in favor
of opponent. If the problem is not complex the Director will give a ruling.
If the problem is complex will be summoned one or more Rules Committee member(s)
to solve the dispute.
6.2 TESTIMONY - Any player may argue issues of fact or rule. Spectators,
except to report cheating, may testify only at Director's or Rules Committee
member's request.
6.3 APPEALS - Player may appeal Director's ruling, but he must to
do so promptly, while timely redress may still be obtained. To resolve an
appeal, Director shall convene at last 3 Members of the Rules Committee
that, after hearing relevant testimony and arguments, may overturn Director's
ruling by majority decision. This exhaust player's right to appeal but the
offended player has the right to signalize the case to the Disciplinary
Committee or by writing to WBF or sending an electronic mail to dapra@iol.it